# Bump stocks intended ban **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 5, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025 "2017-10-05T14:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/1 "2017-10-05T14:43:27Z")
Do explain - how is banning bump stocks anything BUT a feel-good gesture, completely ineffective but I guess serving the cause of appeasing some angry people? As this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlFZOBiWRko) demonstrates, anyone can make a “bump-stock”-like device for maybe a total of $5 of materials you can find in any hardware store. Or, if you want to go fancier, a hobbyist will spend $20 and make it look like a stock and put some springs in. The operating principle is so simple, anyone can make one. Why would you “ban” something anyone can make, at home, not requiring that much effort or any special materials? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/2 "2017-10-05T14:45:42Z")
n/m screwed up-see below ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/3 "2017-10-05T14:47:18Z")
It’s illegal to make a homemade suppressor so the same principle would apply. The puzzle is why were they approved in the first place? ETA: There’s also the fact that bump-firing manually takes a lot of practice and is probably even less accurate than “assisted”. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/4 "2017-10-05T14:49:52Z")
Here is the [approval letter](https://www.slidefire.com/downloads/BATFE.pdf) (note that this was done by Obama administration’s ATF) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/5 "2017-10-05T14:57:54Z")
The Obama administration was wrong in making this a legal device to buy, construct, use. It was wrong then. It’s wrong now. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/6 "2017-10-05T14:59:26Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Here is the [approval letter](https://www.slidefire.com/downloads/BATFE.pdf) (note that this was done by Obama administration’s ATF) You think Obama was personally aware of the matter? Do you think that every single thing that’s done in government is brought to the attention of the President? If you believe that, then you have to admit that Obama wasn’t nearly as anti-gun as he was portrayed. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/7 "2017-10-05T15:04:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You think Obama was personally aware of the matter? Do you think that every single thing that’s done in government is brought to the attention of the President? > If you believe that, then you have to admit that Obama wasn’t nearly as anti-gun as he was portrayed. I just put that in so you don’t blame the evil Republicans for bump stocks. Not relevant to the OP though. Back to the OP - why would you “ban” something anyone can make, at home, not requiring that much effort or any special materials? No, it wouldn’t be as sleek as the one bought from [slidefire.com](http://slidefire.com), but it still would increase the rate of fire. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/8 "2017-10-05T15:06:47Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Do explain - how is banning bump stocks anything BUT a feel-good gesture, completely ineffective but I guess serving the cause of appeasing some angry people? > > As this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlFZOBiWRko) demonstrates, anyone can make a “bump-stock”-like device for maybe a total of $5 of materials you can find in any hardware store. > > Or, if you want to go fancier, a hobbyist will spend $20 and make it look like a stock and put some springs in. The operating principle is so simple, anyone can make one. > > Why would you “ban” something anyone can make, at home, not requiring that much effort or any special materials? Why should I care? Own one, go to jail. I don’t care if they were made by DeathCorp Multinational that makes tons of campaign contributions, or by blind puppies using fair trade materials for only pennies a piece. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/9 "2017-10-05T15:08:50Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Why should I care? Own one, go to jail. Did you look at the video? It’s a wooden board with two handles. Exactly how would you formulate a law that would jail someone for owning a wooden board with two handles on it? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/10 "2017-10-05T15:10:22Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I just put that in so you don’t blame the evil Republicans for bump stocks. Not relevant to the OP though. > > Back to the OP - why would you “ban” something anyone can make, at home, not requiring that much effort or any special materials? No, it wouldn’t be as sleek as the one bought from [slidefire.com](http://slidefire.com), but it still would increase the rate of fire. The same reason we ban Meth and IEDs. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/11 "2017-10-05T15:11:29Z")
I’m sure there are explosives that can be made with easily obtainable chemicals too. We don’t make things illegal based on the difficulty in obtaining them. Imprecision in the text of the law is what compels the ATF to rule the bump stocks as legal. While not a full auto or burst fire weapon, something equipped with a bump stock is similar enough that as long as machine guns are controlled under Title II, it’s not a stretch at all to include bump stocks under the same definitions. In other words, if we have restrictions on machine guns, I wouldn’t be opposed to updating the law to include those same restrictions on bump stocks. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/12 "2017-10-05T15:15:23Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The Obama administration was wrong in making this a legal device to buy, construct, use. > > It was wrong then. It’s wrong now. This however, I don’t think is right. It’s the shooter’s energy pushing into the firearm causing the trigger pull. If the stock was spring loaded such that the weapon itself was causing the multi rounds being shot, then it would be a machine gun. Under the definition of a machine gun, the bump fire stock is not a machine gun. The ATF can only rule on the law as it is written. If we don’t like it, we should change the law. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/13 "2017-10-05T15:15:38Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I just put that in so you don’t blame the evil Republicans for bump stocks. Not relevant to the OP though. > > Back to the OP - why would you “ban” something anyone can make, at home, not requiring that much effort or any special materials? No, it wouldn’t be as sleek as the one bought from [slidefire.com](http://slidefire.com), but it still would increase the rate of fire. Suppressors were part of the [1934 National Firearms Act.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act) Illegal to make at home. Ban bump-stocks, same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/14 "2017-10-05T15:16:42Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m sure there are explosives that can be made with easily obtainable chemicals too. We don’t make things illegal based on the difficulty in obtaining them. > > Imprecision in the text of the law is what compels the ATF to rule the bump stocks as legal. While not a full auto or burst fire weapon, something equipped with a bump stock is similar enough that as long as machine guns are controlled under Title II, it’s not a stretch at all to include bump stocks under the same definitions. In other words, if we have restrictions on machine guns, I wouldn’t be opposed to updating the law to include those same restrictions on bump stocks. Re: “I wouldn’t be opposed to updating the law to include those same restrictions on bump stocks” - I don’t really care whether they are banned or not. I am just marveling at the ridiculousness of “banning” something that literally can be put together in 5 minutes using a wooden board, two metal bars and some screws. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/15 "2017-10-05T15:23:14Z")
Really, you don’t even need a wooden board - you can do the same thing with a pistol and [your belt loop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZCO-06qRgY). It’s just very inaccurate, dangerous, and at best a novelty. The criteria you are using - easy of assembly - that’s not a criteria that is used typically when determining if something should be legal or not. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/16 "2017-10-05T15:25:16Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Re: “I wouldn’t be opposed to updating the law to include those same restrictions on bump stocks” - I don’t really care whether they are banned or not. I am just marveling at the ridiculousness of “banning” something that literally can be put together in 5 minutes using a wooden board, two metal bars and some screws. You have a silly concern. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/17 "2017-10-05T15:29:14Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Really, you don’t even need a wooden board - you can do the same thing with a pistol and [your belt loop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZCO-06qRgY). It’s just very inaccurate, dangerous, and at best a novelty. The criteria you are using - easy of assembly - that’s not a criteria that is used typically when determining if something should be legal or not. It isn’t? Please give an example of anything else that is banned/illegal that can be very easily put together in 5 minutes using readily obtainable cheap materials. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/18 "2017-10-05T15:30:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You have a silly concern. Hey, since it’s a bone to be thrown to gun grabbers that gives them a sense of accomplishment while being completely ineffective, I am all for it. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/19 "2017-10-05T15:30:50Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Re: “I wouldn’t be opposed to updating the law to include those same restrictions on bump stocks” - I don’t really care whether they are banned or not. I am just marveling at the ridiculousness of “banning” something that literally can be put together in 5 minutes using a wooden board, two metal bars and some screws. I marvel at the ridiculousness of 65mph speed limits when most cars are designed and built to travel safely at speeds well above that. But if you are caught doing 100mph, you can be arrested for breaking the law using something that you legally purchased and own. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025/20 "2017-10-05T15:32:39Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I marvel at the ridiculousness of 65mph speed limits when most cars are designed and built to travel safely at speeds well above that. But if you are caught doing 100mph, you can be arrested for breaking the law using something that you legally purchased and own. There is a difference between banning actions and banning objects, wouldn’t you say? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bump-stocks-intended-ban/798025.md?page=2)